This chapter include objectives: Describe what medical terms are used to describe; explain the role of a prefix, root word, combining vowel, and suffix in a medical term; interpret selected examples of medical prefixes, root words, combining vowels, and suffixes; distinguish between singular and plural forms of medical terms; use accepted medical abbreviations appropriately; discriminate between similar medical terms and abbreviations. | 9/10/2012 1 Chapter 9 Medical Terminology 2 Learning Objectives • Describe what medical terms are used to describe. • Explain the role of a prefix, root word, combining vowel, and suffix in a medical term. • Interpret selected examples of medical prefixes, root words, combining vowels, and suffixes. 3 Copyright © 2013 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company 1 9/10/2012 Learning Objectives • Distinguish between singular and plural forms of medical terms. • Use accepted medical abbreviations appropriately. • Discriminate between similar medical terms and abbreviations. 4 The Language of Medicine • Oldest written sources, Hippocratic writings, 5th/4th centuries BC – Beginning of Greek era – Lasted after Roman conquest – Renaissance (14th to 17th centuries), Greek language not widely understood – Greek words translated into Latin – Most medical terms Greek derived, Latin root – Disease terms usually Greek origin – Anatomy terms usually Latin origin 5 Word Parts • Describe – Body structures, systems – Anatomical regions, locations – Diseases, other health problems – Medical, surgical procedures – Diagnostic tests – Medical instruments 6 Copyright © 2013 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company 2 9/10/2012 Word Parts • Broken down into one or more word parts – Prefixes – Suffixes – Root words – Some linking, combining vowels – Help in use, understanding 7 8 Word Parts • Prefixes – One or more root syllables – Beginning of word – Describes location, intensity • Example: abnormal – Prefix is ab = away from – Normal = within balance – Meaning = not within balance 9 Copyright © 2013 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company 3 9/10/2012 Word Parts • Suffixes – End of word – Describes condition, diagnosis • Example: bronchitis – Root word is bronchi – Suffix is itis = inflammation – Meaning = inflammation of bronchi 10 Word Parts • Root words – .
